Politics of Libya 17804 222043183 2008-06-27T08:22:19Z CommonsDelinker 2304267 Removing "Gadhafi_Carpet.jpeg", it has been deleted from Commons by [[commons:User:MichaelMaggs|MichaelMaggs]] because: per [[w:commons:Commons:Deletion_requests/Image:Gadhafi_Carpet.jpeg]]. {{Unreferenced|date=September 2007}} {{Politics of Libya}} '''Politics of Libya''' takes place in a framework of a dual government structure in [[Libya]]. The "revolutionary sector" comprises Revolutionary Leader [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]], the Revolutionary Committees, and the remaining members of the 12-person Revolutionary Command Council, which was established in 1969. The historical revolutionary leadership is not elected and cannot be voted out of office, as they are in power by virtue of their involvement in the revolution. The revolutionary sector dictates the decision-making power of the second sector, the "Jamahiriya Sector". Making up the legislative branch of government, this sector comprises Local People's Congresses in each of the 1,500 urban wards, 32 Sha’biyat People’s Congresses for the regions, and the National General People's Congress. These legislative bodies are represented by corresponding executive bodies (Local People's Committees, Sha'biyat People's Committees and the National General People’s Committee/Cabinet). [[Libya]]'s political system is theoretically based on the political philosophy in [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]]'s ''[[The Green Book|Green Book]]'', which combines [[socialism|socialist]] and [[Islam]]ic theories and rejects parliamentary democracy and political parties. In reality, Qadhafi exercises near total control over the government. ==Head of State== In some states, as in Libya, the office of head of state is not expressed in a specific title reflecting that role, ten years as combined Head of State and Head of government of the Libyan ''Jamahiriya'' ("state of the masses"), styled Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, formally transferred both qualities, to the General secretaries of the General People's Congress (comparable to a Speaker) respectively to a Prime Minister, in political reality both his creatures. ==Colonel Qadhafi in power== For the first 7 years following the revolution, Colonel Qadhafi and 12 fellow army officers, the [[Revolutionary Command Council]], began a complete overhaul of Libya's political system, society, and economy. On [[3 March]] [[1977]], Qadhafi convened a General People's Congress (GPC) to proclaim the establishment of "people's power," change the country's name to the [[Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]], and to vest, theoretically, primary authority in the GPC. Today, the official name of the country of Libya is Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma. Qadhafi remained the de facto chief of state and secretary general of the GPC until 1980, when he gave up his office. He continues to control all aspects of the Libyan Government through direct appeals to the masses, a pervasive security apparatus, and powerful revolutionary committees. Although he holds no formal office, Qadhafi exercises absolute power with the assistance of a small group of trusted advisers, who include relatives from his home base in the Surt region, which lies between the rival provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. After the revolution, Qadhafi took increasing control of the government, but he also attempted to achieve greater popular participation in local government. In 1973, he announced the start of a "cultural revolution" in schools, businesses, industries, and public institutions to oversee administration of those organizations in the public interest. The March 1977 establishment of "people's power" &mdash;with mandatory popular participation in the selection of representatives to the GPC&mdash; was the culmination of this process. In the 1980s, competition grew between the official Libyan Government and military hierarchies and the revolutionary committees. An abortive coup attempt in May 1984 apparently mounted by Libyan exiles with internal support, led to a short-lived reign of terror in which thousands were imprisoned and interrogated. An unknown number were executed. Qadhafi used the revolutionary committees to search out alleged internal opponents following the coup attempt, thereby accelerating the rise of more radical elements inside the Libyan power hierarchy. In 1988, faced with rising public dissatisfaction with shortages in consumer goods and setbacks in Libya's war with [[Chad]], Qadhafi began to curb the power of the revolutionary committees and to institute some domestic reforms. The regime released many political prisoners and eased restrictions on foreign travel by Libyans. Private businesses were again permitted to operate. In the late 1980s, Qadhafi began to pursue an anti-Fundamentalist Islamic policy domestically, viewing fundamentalism as a potential rallying point for opponents of the regime. Ministerial positions and military commanders are frequently shuffled or placed under temporary house arrest to diffuse potential threats to Qadhafi's authority. Despite these measures, internal dissent continues. Qadhafi's security forces launched a preemptive strike at alleged coup plotters in the military and among the Warfallah tribe in October 1993. Widespread arrests and government reshufflings followed, accompanied by public "confessions" from regime opponents and allegations of torture and executions. The military, once Qadhafi's strongest supporters, became a potential threat in the 1990s. In 1993, following a failed coup attempt that implicated senior military officers, Qadhafi began to purge the military periodically, eliminating potential rivals and inserting his own loyal followers in their place. ==Government administration== {{office-table}} |Revolutionary Leader |[[Muammar al-Gaddafi|Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi]] | |[[1 September]] [[1969]] |- |[[List of Libyan Heads of State|Head of state]] |[[Azanati Emhemmed Azanati]] | |[[18 November]] [[1992]] |- |[[Heads of Government of Libya|Secretary-General]] of the [[General People's Committee of Libya|General People's Committee]] |[[Baghdadi Mahmudi]] | |March [[2006]] |} Every four years the membership of the Local People's Congresses elects by acclamation both their own leadership and secretaries for the People’s Committees, sometimes after many debates and a critical vote. The leadership of the Local People’s Congress represents the local congress at the People’s Congress of the next level and has an imperative mandate. The members of the National General People's Congress elect the members of the National General People’s Committee (the Cabinet) by acclamation at their annual meeting. The most recent meeting, which took place in Sirt from 8 January-12 January 2005, was the 29th annual. While there is discussion regarding who will run for executive offices, only those approved by the revolutionary leadership are actually elected. The government administration is effective as long as it operates within the directives of the revolutionary leadership. The revolutionary leadership has absolute veto power despite the constitutionally established people's democracy and alleged rule of the people. The government controls both state-run and semi-autonomous media, and any articles critical of current policies have been requested and intentionally placed by the revolutionary leadership itself, for example, as a means of initiating reforms. In cases involving a violation of "these taboos", the private press, like The Tripoli Post, has been censored. ==Legislative branch== The '''[[General People's Congress of Libya|General People's Congress]]''' (''Mu'tammar al-sha'ab al 'âmm'') consists out of circa 2700 representatives of the Basis People's Congresses. The GPC is the legislative forum that interacts with the [[General People's Committee]], whose members are secretaries of Libyan ministries. It serves as the intermediary between the masses and the leadership and is composed of the secretariats of some 600 local "basic popular congresses." The GPC secretariat and the cabinet secretaries are appointed by the GPC secretary general and confirmed by the annual GPC congress. These cabinet secretaries are responsible for the routine operation of their ministries. ==Political parties and elections== Political parties were banned by the Prohibition of Party Politics Act Number 71 of 1972. According to the Association Act of 1971, the establishment of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is allowed. As they are required to conform to the goals of the revolution, however, the number of NGOs in Libya is small in comparison with neighboring countries. Unions do not exist as such. However, the numerous professional associations are integrated into the state structure as a third pillar, along with the People’s Congresses and Committees, though they do not have the right to strike. Professional associations send delegates to the General People's Congress, where they have a representative mandate. The '''[[General People's Congress of Libya|General People's Congress]]''' (''Mu'tammar al-sha'ab al 'âmm'') consists out of circa 2700 representatives of the Basis People's Congresses. ==Judicial system== The Libyan court system consists of four levels: summary courts, which try petty offenses, the courts of first instance, which try more serious crimes; the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court, which is the final appellate level. The GPC appoints justices to the Supreme Court. Special "revolutionary courts" and military courts operate outside the court system to try political offenses and crimes against the state. Libya's justice system is nominally based on [[Sharia]] law. ==International organization participation== Libya is a member of [[Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa|ABEDA]], [[African Development Bank|AfDB]], [[Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development|AFESD]], [[Arab League|AL]], [[Allied Mobile Forces (NATO)|AMF]], [[Arab Maghreb Union|AMU]], [[African Union|AU]], [[Council of Arab Economic Unity|CAEU]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|ECA]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[Islamic Development Bank|IDB]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]], [[International Mobile Satellite Organization|Inmarsat]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol]], [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo|MONUC]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries|OAPEC]], [[Organization of the Islamic Conference|OIC]], [[Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries|OPEC]], [[Permanent Court of Arbitration|PCA]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Tourism Organization|WToO]] and [[United Nations Human Settlements Program|UNHABITAT]]. ==External links== * [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/l/libya/ Adam Carr's Election Archive] * [http://www.nfsl-libya.com/ The National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL) Opposition to the Gaddafi regime] {{Libya topics}} {{Africa topic|Politics of}} {{Africa topic|Elections in}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Politics of Libya| ]] [[Category:Political parties in Libya| ]] [[Category:Elections in Libya]] [[Category:Lists of political parties|Libya]] <!--Other languages--> [[ar:قانون ليبيا]] [[fr:Politique de la Libye]]